Biden celebrates computer chip factories, pitching voters on American 'comeback'

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday sought to sell voters on an American “comeback story” as he highlighted longterm investments in the economy in upstate New York to celebrate Micron Technology's plans to build a campus of computer chip factories made possible in part with government support.

Staring down a rematch with Republican Donald Trump, Biden was asking voters to buy into his vision of the future, at a moment when voters are most worried about enduring pressures from high inflation. The initial phase of New York project would open the first plant in 2028 and the second plant in 2029, with more time expected for the next two factories to be completed.

Biden was campaigning on a promise of better times ahead, just as Trump, the former president, often taps into a past when U.S. manufacturing was the world standard. The Democrat is trying to convince voters to think beyond their present circumstances at the ballot box.

“This is such a big deal,” Biden said. “We’re bringing advanced chip manufacturing back to America.”

He added: “It’s one of the most significant science and technology investments in our history."

It's far from a surefire message in an era of near-instant gratification. Compared to when Biden began in politics in the 1970s, people can immediately stream music and videos on their smart phones, order a pizza with finger swipe or text a friend thousands of miles away.

Trump, for his part, is telling voters that Biden's policies will hurt jobs tied to making gasoline-powered autos and ultimately send work to China. On Tuesday, he vented about how the rising value of the dollar against foreign currencies would hobble U.S. manufacturing by making American-made goods too costly.

“It sounds good to stupid people, but it is a disaster for our manufacturers and others,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “They are actually unable to compete and will be forced to either lose lots of business, or build plants, or whatever, in the 'smart' Countries.”

The former president at a recent Pennsylvania rally lamented the loss of factory jobs that once made the United States “the greatest country in the history of the world,” saying that the country has since “lost its confidence, willpower and sight.”

The Biden administration helped jumpstart the Micron project by agreeing to provide $6.1 billion in government support that will also cover a memory chip factory in Idaho that would be operating in 2026. The money also helps pay for the first two factories in Clay, New York, but not the second pair to be opened later. The funding is part of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act that, along with the administration's funding for renewable energy projects, has boosted factory construction spending to record levels.

There are also factories planned by Intel in Arizona and Ohio, TSMC in Arizona, Samsung in Texas and other chipmakers. Their efforts will power artificial intelligence and electric vehicles, among other technologies that Biden believes will cement America's position as the world's largest economy. Biden has gone to Arizona and Ohio to celebrate chip factories and previously went to New York in 2022 for the Micron project.

“American manufacturing is back,” Biden said Thursday. “New factories are going up across the country.”

Biden earlier toured mockups of the facility with New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, who called it the most exciting time in his four decades in the chipmaking industry.

For decades, voters have heard politicians pledging a manufacturing boom without much to show for it. Factory employment peaked in the late 1970s and has steadily drifted downward because of automation, outsourcing to cheap countries and the closures that come with each recession.

In celebrating the Micron project, Schumer noted that Trump, while president, famously told voters that electronics maker Foxconn would open a sprawling set of factories in Wisconsin.

At the time, Trump took a victory lap, saying that the Taiwan-headquartered company would be bringing manufacturing jobs to the United States.

“I will tell you they wouldn’t have done it here, except that I became president, so that’s good,” Trump said in June 2018.

That project notoriously flamed out, feeding a sense of cynicism about what the government can do. Microsoft agreed in 2023 to buy the land for a data center after Foxconn failed to deliver on its 13,000 promised jobs.

Schumer said an interview that voters will find that this time is different, predicting they will see the United States as pulling ahead of China on the technologies that are essential for national security and economic growth, allowing more jobs and needed technology to stay in America.

“We want to be proud of our economy and there was too much of a feeling that we were losing out to China and other countries,” Schumer said.

Biden in his remarks chided House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik and Republican Rep. Brandon Williams who represents the district for opposing the chips legislation when it passed Congress but now hails the investments it allows.

“I guess they’re not going to be here to celebrate," he quipped.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks before President Joe Biden arrives to deliver remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum in Syracuse, N.Y., Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum in Syracuse, N.Y., Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum in Syracuse, N.Y., Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum in Syracuse, N.Y., Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

President Joe Biden, from left, walks with County Executive Ryan McMahon and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as he arrives at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden, from right, is greeted by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and County Executive Ryan McMahon, as he arrives at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden, from third left, walks with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and County Executive Ryan McMahon as he arrives at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden, from right, is greeted by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and County Executive Ryan McMahon, as he arrives at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden speaks to the North America's Building Trade Union National Legislative Conference, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden speaks to the North America's Building Trade Union National Legislative Conference, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pinch-hitter Jack Suwinski singled home Connor Joe with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

Joe led off the ninth against Nick Mears (0-3) with a single and eventually moved to third after walks to Jared Triolo and Oneil Cruz. Suwinski snapped an 0-for-12 skid by dropping a single into left as the Pirates snapped a five-game losing streak.

“Good at-bat, line drive through the middle, something we obviously needed a little bit,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Just very good for our whole group.”

Jared Jones, Colin Holderman and David Bednar (2-2) combined for a one-hitter as the Pirates won for just the fourth time in their last 18 games. The Rockies managed just one baserunner, a double by Elias Diaz leading off the fifth.

“I’m just going out there and doing me,” Jones said after dropping his ERA to 2.63. “I’m sure I’ve had some spurts in my career where I’ve pitched just like this.”

The 22-year-old Jones has been a revelation during the season's opening weeks, dominating opponents with a fastball that can reach triple digits offset by a slider and change-up that can leave opponents guessing.

The right-hander baffled the Rockies, retiring the first 12 batters he faced before Díaz laced a clean double to the left-field corner. A strikeout and a pair of balls that didn't leave the infield later, Jones was jogging back to the dugout.

The Pirates have been careful with Jones in hopes of protecting his right arm. Shelton raised eyebrows when he lifted Jones after five innings and 59 pitches (50 of them strikes) against the New York Mets last month.

There was no early exit this time around. Jones went back out for the seventh for the first time in his career and navigated the middle of Colorado's lineup with ease, receiving a loud ovation when he retired the Rockies in order and headed to the dugout after throwing a season-high 96 pitches. Jones struck out 10 without a walk.

“I’ve had a short leash before, and that was to protect me,” Jones said. “Having him let me go out for the seventh, yeah, it pumped me up.”

Colorado starter Austin Gomber wasn't quite as dazzling but matched Jones while throwing six scoreless innings, allowing four hits against two walks and three strikeouts. The Rockies, off to a franchise-worst 8-25 start, have yet to win consecutive games this season.

No runner for either team reached third base through the first eight innings, a byproduct of two pitchers who had it going and offenses that have struggled to generate much of anything until Suwinski came through in the ninth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: OF Nolan Jones (low back strain) did some running and throwing on the field at PNC Park before the game. There remains no timetable for a return for Jones, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 29. ... 1B Kris Bryant (low back strain) is doing some “baseball stuff" according to manager Bud Black, though Black did not offer specifics. Bryant has been out since April 13.

UP NEXT

The series wraps up on Sunday. Bailey Falter (2-2, 4.22 ERA) starts for Pittsburgh against Colorado's Ryan Feltner (1-2, 5.13).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jack Suwinski (65) celebrates with Oneil Cruz after driving in the game-winning run with a walk-off single off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Nick Mears during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. The Pirates won 1-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jack Suwinski, center, celebrates with Oneil Cruz, rear, after driving in the winning run with a walkoff single off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Nick Mears during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jack Suwinski (65) celebrates with teammates after driving in the winning run with a walkoff single off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Nick Mears during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jack Suwinski (65) walks off the field after driving in the winning run with a walkoff single off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Nick Mears during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black stands in the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, right, tags out Pittsburgh Pirates' Connor Joe (2) who was attempting to stretch a single into a double during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal walks from the bullpen after warming up starting pitcher Jared Jones before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)